The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 4 eBook

[14] What Draupadi means is that instead
of passing her days in joy and happiness, instead
of being able to wish time to be stationary with
her, she is obliged in consequence of her misery,
to wish time to pass off quickly.

Vaisampayana continued, “Relating her woes thus,
O Bharata, unto Bhimasena, Krishna began to weep silently,
casting her eyes on Bhima. And then, with words
choked in tears, and sighing repeatedly, she addressed
Bhima in these words, powerfully stirring his heart,
’Signal, O Bhima, must have been my offence
of old unto the gods, for, unfortunate as I am.
I am yet alive, when, O Pandava, I should die.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Then that slayer of
hostile heroes, Vrikodara, covering his face with
those delicate hands of his wife marked with corns,
began to weep. And that mighty son of Kunti, holding
the hands of Draupadi in his, shed copious tears.
And afflicted with great woe, he spoke these words.”

SECTION XXI

“Bhima said, ’Fie on the might of my arms
and fie on the Gandiva of Phalguna, inasmuch
as thy hands, red before, now become covered with
corns. I would have caused a carnage in Virata’s
court but for the fact that Kunti’s son eyed
me (by way of forbidding it), or like a mighty elephant,
I would, without ado, have crushed the head of Kichaka
intoxicated with the pride of sovereignty. When,
O Krishna, I beheld thee kicked by Kichaka, I conceived
at that instant a wholesale slaughter of the Matsyas.
Yudhishthira, however, forbade me by a glance, and,
O beauteous lady, understanding his intention I have
kept quiet. That we have been deprived of our
kingdom, that I have not yet slain the Kurus, that
I have not yet taken the heads of Suyodhana and Karna,
and Suvala’s son Sakuni, and the wicked Duhsasana,
these acts and omissions, O lady, are consuming every
limb of mine. The thought of those abides in
my heart like a javelin implanted in it. O thou
of graceful hips, do not sacrifice virtue, and, O
noble-hearted lady, subdue thy wrath. If king
Yudhishthira hear from thee such rebukes, he will surely
put an end to his life. If also Dhananjaya and
the twins hear thee speak thus, even they will renounce
life. And if these, O slender-waisted maiden,
give up life, I also shall not be able to bear my
own. In olden days Sarjati’s daughter,
the beautiful Sukanya, followed into the forest Chyavana
of Bhrigu’s race, whose mind was under complete
control, and over whom, while engaged in ascetic meditation,
the ants had built a hill. Thou mayst have heard
that Indrasena also who in beauty was like unto Narayani
herself, followed her husband aged a thousand years.
Thou mayst have heard that Janaka’s daughter
Sita, the princess of Videha, followed her lord while
living in dense woods. And that lady of graceful
hips, Rama’s beloved wife, afflicted with calamities
and persecuted by the Rakshasas, at length regained